HONOLULU, Hawaii – It only took one pitch for sophomore Kortney Craker to give Portland State its first win of the season, 6-5, with a walk-off home run against Utah Valley Friday afternoon in Honolulu, Hawaii.
 
"That was a huge win," third-year Head Coach Barb Sherwood said following the win. "We finally got the 'monkey off our back.' Kortney came up big with the walk-off and we are looking to keep the positive momentum going into our next game."
 
After Utah Valley tied the game in the top of the inning, Craker led off the bottom of the seventh. She did not waste any time sending the first pitch she saw deep over the left field fence for her first walk-off hit as a Viking.
 
Craker finished the game going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and the game-winning solo home run, the first of her PSU career. It was Craker's fourth multi-hit game of the season.
 
Utah Valley opened the game with an unearned run in the top of the first inning off starting pitcher Meagan Hendrix to go up 1-0.
 
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, Hendrix got through the top of the second unscathed.
 
Craker led off the bottom of the second with a hit by a pitch. Alex Flores dropped down a sacrifice bunt but reached on a throwing error. Craker moved all the way to third base on the error. SheaLee Lindsey, who pinch ran for Flores, then stole second.
 
Katherine Kramer tied the game with an RBI single up the middle, bringing in in Craker from third. Lindsey moved to third on the play and scored on a Lexi Goranson grounded out to second. After the next batter lined out to the pitcher, Celena Carrisosa put the Vikings up 3-1 with an infield RBI single.
 
Right-handed pitcher Kristen Crawford came in to pitch for Hendrix to start the top of the third and worked three scoreless innings as the Vikings increased their advantage.
 
Portland State added two more runs in the bottom of the third on a bases-loaded walk by Goranson and a RBI fielder's choice by Candice Orozco to go up 5-1.
 
The Wolverines started to make things interesting in the top of the sixth inning. Karyn Wright started the inning in the circle for the Vikings and struck out the first batter she faced. The next batter singled to right field. A hit by pitch put runners at first and second with one out.
 
The next batter singled up the middle. Goranson came up firing with a perfect throw to Kramer at the plate holding the lead runner at third. Wright fell behind the next batter with a 3-1 count but game back and got the batter to strike out swinging for the second out.
 
Utah Valley picked up its only two-out hit with a single up the middle to score a run and bring the score to 5-2. Wright got out of the inning with another strikeout, this time looking.
 
Portland State had runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to plate any insurance runs.
 
Wright gave up a run on back-to-back doubles to start the seventh before being lifted for Hendrix, who reentered the game. After getting the first batter she faced to pop out to the shortstop, she gave up a two-run home run to tie the game at 5-5.
 
Back-to-back pop outs to second base ended the top of the seventh but the damage was done and the Vikings' lead was gone.
 
Craker then blasted the first pitch she saw over the left field fence in the bottom of the inning for her first career PSU home run, giving the Vikings their first win of the season.
 
Portland State scattered five hits in the game, including going 2-for-3 with a runner on third and less than two outs.
 
Hendrix was credited with the win, as the pitcher of record when Craker hit the walk-off. She improved her record to 1-3 with the win. Portland State improved to 1-10 overall with the win, while Utah Valley fell to 4-7.
 
Portland State will take on Hawaii later night in its second game of the Hawaii Invitational. A live video feed, as well as live stats, are available for tonight's game against Hawaii. Links can be found on the softball schedule page at GoViks.com.